Drip irrigator for hanging baskets

Abstract

Basic form is a conical reservoir, small end up and provided with a hook whereby the irrigator may be suspended from the same bracket used to support the hanging basket. A multiplicity of small openings downwardly through the base of the irrigator permits a slow dripping of a solution stored in the reservoir, and a larger opening at the top keeps atmosphereic pressure on the top of the solution. In one refinement the base is provided with a number of downwardly extending channels to which the small openings may be limited. In another modification the distribution network is separated from the reservoir and is disposed just below it. The two parts are normally connected for flow by a plug connector which has a second or raised position wherein the flow passages are sealed to prevent any flow.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A drip irrigator adapted for use with a hanging basket comprising hook means and a hollow, single reservoir being of generally conical shape and having a narrow upper neck secured to said hook means and tapering downwardly to a broad circular area base, said reservoir having a multiplicity of small openings through said base and dispersed over said circular area, whereby a fluid or solution in said reservoir may drip through said openings to wet a circular area of said hanging basket below, a relatively large filler opening adjacent said neck, and being sealed from the surrounding atmosphere except through said openings, said generally conical reservoir having its smaller end secured to said hook means, and said base being modified to provide its upper, interior surface with two levels of surfaces, higher level surfaces and lower level surfaces, said lower level surfaces being the bottoms of a group of interconnected channels or troughs connected to said upper level surfaces by sidewalls of said channels or troughs.   
     
     
       2. The drip irrigator of Claim 1 in which said interconnected channels comprise an inner circular channel, an outer circular channel, and a multiplicity of radial channels extending between the two circular channels in fluid flow communication therewith.   
     
     
       3. The drip irrigator of claim 1 in which said base of the reservoir has a flat upper surface and a parallel flat lower surface.